JetBlue and Etihad Airways

JetBlue Airways, New York’s Hometown Airline™, and Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, today announced plans to begin codeshare operations and provide customers with enhanced travel options worldwide.

The
agreement, which is subject to government approval, will see Etihad Airways place
its “EY” code on JetBlue-operated flights, initially facilitating connections between
the two airlines at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and
Washington’s Dulles International Airport (IAD).

In
the first stage of the partnership, Etihad Airways will codeshare on 40 JetBlue
routes within the US. Further codeshare services are planned on JetBlue flights
once Etihad Airways commences daily flights to Los Angeles from June 2014.
Subject to US and foreign government approval, Etihad Airways also plans to codeshare
on JetBlue flights between New York and select destinations in the Dominican
Republic, Jamaica and Colombia.

“Like
JetBlue, Etihad Airways has quickly established itself as a premier brand built
on excellent service and a high-quality product,” said Robin Hayes, JetBlue’s President.
“We look forward to partnering more closely with the airline and affording our
customers access to some of the world’s most fascinating destinations.”

James
Hogan, Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “The US is
a major and growing market for Etihad Airways and this partnership with JetBlue
will enable us to offer our guests more options for travel within and beyond the
US.

“In
addition to New York and Washington, we also fly daily to Chicago. Just last
week, we also announced a second daily flight between our hub, Abu Dhabi, and
New York City, and we will start flights to Los Angeles and Dallas-Fort Worth
in June and December this year.”

From
its US gateways of Chicago, New York and Washington DC Etihad Airways offers
connections through its Abu Dhabi hub to dozens of destinations across the
Middle East, Africa, the Indian Sub-Continent, Asia and Australia.

Etihad
Airways is also one of the world’s best-regarded airlines, with a focus on
service and best-in-class product for all travellers, and was recently voted
the World’s Leading Airline, for the fifth consecutive year, at the World
Travel Awards 2013. The airline’s Diamond First Class has its own in-flight
Chef; Pearl Business Class offers a specially-trained Food and Beverage
Manager; and a Flying Nanny service was recently introduced to assist families travelling
in all three cabins.

Customers
transferring in New York or Washington to JetBlue will enjoy the award-winning
airline’s signature in-flight experience with unlimited free snacks and
non-alcoholic drinks plus the most legroom in economy class (based on average
fleet-wide seat pitch) and a variety of seatback TV and entertainment options. Later
this year, JetBlue will debut Mint, the carrier’s new premium offering,
featuring the longest lie-flat bed* in domestic business class and the only
private suites on the New York-Los Angeles and New York-San Francisco routes.

* Based on average length/width of lie-flat beds
on domestic flights operated by U.S. airlines.